Lib Dem MP demands 'radical overhaul' of drug policy

Wednesday, 27 July 2011 3:10 PM

By Phil ScullionFollow @PhilScullion

Britain's drug policy has failed and is in need of a 'radical overhaul', according to a Liberal Democrat MP.

In a politics.co.uk article Julian Huppert dubs the government's current drug policies "ineffective" and "expensive".

The Cambridge MP wrote: "Taking a tough line through the courts and imposing jail sentences on drug addicts for relatively small drugs charges hasn't worked.

"It is time that we developed a rational policy based on scientific evidence rather than on media hype."

Dr Huppert, who has a PhD in Biological Chemistry from Trinity College, Cambridge, added that that there is "no simple answer" to the problem, however.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "Julian Huppert is right – there is no silver bullet for tackling drug misuse.

"However, it is not in fact the case that drug use is increasing in the UK, as figures show that overall drug use has been falling in recent years. Of course, that is no cause for complacency."

The UK's main drugs legislation, the Misuse of Drugs Act, is now 40 years old. Mr Barnes believes the legislation should be reviewed.

He added that the review should be "one which considers whether, for example, there are better alternatives to the criminal justice system for offences of possession for personal use".

Under current laws possession of a class A drug can result in up to seven years in prison. Class B drugs get up to five years, and class C up to two years.

The death of troubled 27-year-old musician Amy Winehouse, a well-publicised drug addict, has refocused media attention on the difficulty of treating those with drug and alcohol dependency.

Dr Huppert, who serves as the vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform, wrote his article for politics.co.uk before the singer's premature passing.

However he did say that any drug policy needs to provide treatment for addicts without also adding to their problems or putting more pressure on "already overcrowded" prisons.

The views of Dr Huppert are unlikely to draw the sympathy of many Conservative MPs within the coalition - although he did stop short of calling for the immediate legalisation of any drugs.
 

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